S.A. Back in the Day: 112 years of the San Antonio Light

To mark the 20th anniversary of the Light's last edition, we've combed through the archives to bring you 100 Light covers chronicling historic events.

By Compiled by Merrisa Brown, mySA.com

on January 27, 2013 1:23 AM

Photo: San Antonio Light archives

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To mark the 20th anniversary of the San Antonio Light's last edition on Jan. 28, 1993, we've combed through the archives to bring you 100 Light covers chronicling historic events from the 19th and 20th centuries. Enjoy! Compiled by Merrisa Brown, mySA.com.

Warning: Some words used on older newspapers are considered offensive today. Note: Dates are the date of the San Antonio Light edition, not necessarily the event.

To mark the 20th anniversary of the San Antonio Light's last edition on Jan. 28, 1993, we've combed through the archives to bring you 100 Light covers chronicling historic events from the 19th and 20th

SATURDAY, JULY 2, 1898: The United States celebrates after Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders, who trained in San Antonio, are victorious at San Juan Hill, a decisive battle in the Spanish-American War, which ended nearly two months later.

SATURDAY, JULY 2, 1898: The United States celebrates after Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders, who trained in San Antonio, are victorious at San Juan Hill, a decisive battle in the Spanish-American War, which

MONDAY, MARCH 18, 1912: Twenty-six people die when a Southern Pacific Railroad locomotive's boiler explodes at the roundhouse in San Antonio.

MONDAY, MARCH 18, 1912: Twenty-six people die when a Southern Pacific Railroad locomotive's boiler explodes at the roundhouse in San Antonio.

Photo: San Antonio Light Archives

MONDAY, MARCH 18, 1912: Twenty-six people die when a Southern... Photo-4093881.55771 - San Antonio Express-News

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TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 1912: News of the Titanic's casualties reaches San Antonio. The day before, the San Antonio Light received an early report that most of the passengers were saved. However, more than 1,500 people would die in one of the world's largest and best known maritime disasters.

TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 1912: News of the Titanic's casualties reaches San Antonio. The day before, the San Antonio Light received an early report that most of the passengers were saved. However, more than 1,500

THURSDAY, OCT. 9, 1919: The Cincinnati Reds beat the Chicago White Sox in Game 8 to win the 1919 World Series. Soon after, scandal rocked the nation when it was learned that eight players from the White Sox — dubbed the Black Sox — threw the game (or knew about the fix). The eight would received lifetime bans from professional baseball.

THURSDAY, OCT. 9, 1919: The Cincinnati Reds beat the Chicago White Sox in Game 8 to win the 1919 World Series. Soon after, scandal rocked the nation when it was learned that eight players from the White Sox —

SATURDAY, SEPT. 10, 1921: The San Antonio Light fills the entire front page with news of the most disastrous flood in the history of San Antonio, in which about 50 people would die. The Light reports the flood, "which comes without warning after cloudburst in Olmos Valley ... floods business district for many blocks while San Pedro and Alazan creeks sweep wide path through West Side residence district ... thousands rescued by police, firemen, soldiers and volunteer workers."

SATURDAY, SEPT. 10, 1921: The San Antonio Light fills the entire front page with news of the most disastrous flood in the history of San Antonio, in which about 50 people would die. The Light reports the flood,

MONDAY, JUNE 2, 1924: William Randolph Hearst, called the "world's greatest publisher," buys the San Antonio Light on May 25, 1924. This is the Light's first edition as a Hearst newspaper, with a photo of a "fearless maid" who "battled tide to save two lives."

MONDAY, JUNE 2, 1924: William Randolph Hearst, called the "world's greatest publisher," buys the San Antonio Light on May 25, 1924. This is the Light's first edition as a Hearst newspaper, with a photo of a

THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 1924: Lt. Stewart L. Thomson, a pilot, is killed when two planes collide at 1,300 feet at Kelly AFB. Jose Maria Ramos, an 11-year-old boy who was chopping cotton, is crushed when the wreckage falls to the ground. The other pilot, Lt. W.W. White, is able to parachute to safety.

THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 1924: Lt. Stewart L. Thomson, a pilot, is killed when two planes collide at 1,300 feet at Kelly AFB. Jose Maria Ramos, an 11-year-old boy who was chopping cotton, is crushed when the wreckage

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 5, 1924: Miriam "Ma" Ferguson is elected the first female governor of Texas. Ma promises voters she will follow the advice of her husband, former Gov. Jim Ferguson, who resigned the office after he was impeached and convicted of 10 counts, including misapplication of public funds.

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 5, 1924: Miriam "Ma" Ferguson is elected the first female governor of Texas. Ma promises voters she will follow the advice of her husband, former Gov. Jim Ferguson, who resigned the office after

SUNDAY, MAY 21, 1927: Charles Lindbergh is hailed by a cheering crowd in France after completing the first solo non-stop transatlantic flight. Meanwhile, in San Antonio, the father of 16-year-old Alicia Estrada del Campo seeks an annulment of her marriage to pilot Capt. Elisco M. del Campo.

SUNDAY, MAY 21, 1927: Charles Lindbergh is hailed by a cheering crowd in France after completing the first solo non-stop transatlantic flight. Meanwhile, in San Antonio, the father of 16-year-old Alicia Estrada

SUNDAY, MAY 21, 1927: Charles Lindbergh is hailed by a cheering... Photo-4093895.55771 - San Antonio Express-News

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THURSDAY, FEB. 14, 1929: Seven Chicago mobsters are killed by a firing squad in the Saint Valentine's Day Massacre. Al Capone's gang is known to be responsible for the attack, but no one is ever tried or convicted for the crime.

THURSDAY, FEB. 14, 1929: Seven Chicago mobsters are killed by a firing squad in the Saint Valentine's Day Massacre. Al Capone's gang is known to be responsible for the attack, but no one is ever tried or

FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 1930: Thousands flock to Randolph Field for the field's dedication, which includes maneuvers by 233 planes. At the time, the so-called "West Point of the Air" is the world's largest air field and training center.

FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 1930: Thousands flock to Randolph Field for the field's dedication, which includes maneuvers by 233 planes. At the time, the so-called "West Point of the Air" is the world's largest air field

FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 1930: Thousands flock to Randolph Field for the... Photo-4093908.55771 - San Antonio Express-News

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FRIDAY, MAY 13, 1932: The body of Charles Lindbergh Jr., son of pilot and national hero Charles Lindbergh, is found in the woods near the Lindbergh home two months after he was kidnapped. President Herbert Hoover orders law enforcement "never to be relaxed until those criminals are implacably brought to justice." Bruno Hauptmann would be executed for the crime in 1936.

FRIDAY, MAY 13, 1932: The body of Charles Lindbergh Jr., son of pilot and national hero Charles Lindbergh, is found in the woods near the Lindbergh home two months after he was kidnapped. President Herbert

FRIDAY, MARCH 19, 1937: A natural gas explosion at the New London School in Rusk County, Texas, kills nearly 300 students and teachers. It remains the deadliest school disaster in U.S. history. The disaster lead the Texas Legislature to mandate a scent be added to natural gas, which was odorless and colorless, so leaks could be detected.

FRIDAY, MARCH 19, 1937: A natural gas explosion at the New London School in Rusk County, Texas, kills nearly 300 students and teachers. It remains the deadliest school disaster in U.S. history. The disaster

FRIDAY, MARCH 19, 1937: A natural gas explosion at the New... Photo-4093903.55771 - San Antonio Express-News

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FRIDAY, MAY 7, 1937: The German airship the Hindenburg catches fire, killing 35 people. The event is caught on film, and the phrase, "Oh, the humanity!" cried by radio announcer Herbert Morrison becomes a pop culture staple.

FRIDAY, MAY 7, 1937: The German airship the Hindenburg catches fire, killing 35 people. The event is caught on film, and the phrase, "Oh, the humanity!" cried by radio announcer Herbert Morrison becomes a pop

FRIDAY, MAY 7, 1937: The German airship the Hindenburg catches... Photo-4093902.55771 - San Antonio Express-News

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SATURDAY, JULY 3, 1937: Pilot Amelia Earhart, the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic, goes missing over the Pacific during an attempt to fly around the world. She and navigator Fred Noonan are never seen or heard from again. Meanwhile, Elmendorf farmer Frank Mitchell is accused of hitching his 14-year-old son to a plow.

SATURDAY, JULY 3, 1937: Pilot Amelia Earhart, the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic, goes missing over the Pacific during an attempt to fly around the world. She and navigator Fred Noonan are never